One way to address the disastrous 2011 season for the Indianapolis Colts was to start over. That's the one Irsay went with, from the GM all the way to the last man on the roster. This year's Colts look like an expansion team, with only a handful of players wearing the horseshoe who also wore it last year.
As a fan I was sort of hoping they'd figure out a way to keep Peyton Manning to help with rookie QB Andrew Luck's transition to the NFL. But the only realistic way to do that would have been to get Peyton to accept a contract that was heavy on incentives and light on guarantees, so he gets his money if he plays up to form and the Colts are reasonably well protected from a salary cap disaster if he doesn't.
But the Broncos were more than happy to pay Peyton and absorb the risk. They might ride that decision to a Super Bowl trophy, or they might lose Peyton to injury or damaged nerves in the first game. They rolled the dice in the craps game the Colts decided not to enter.
Reports from the Colts' mini-camp were that their rookie QB looked good. Strong and accurate, they say he looks great.
But he's still a rookie. As are many of his teammates. They might be good one day, but can they turn in a .500 record this season? I'm thinking maybe they can get 4 wins. But maybe, just like when Peyton was a rookie, we'll see the promise in Luck. Luck may have games where he throws a couple of terrific 60 or 80 yard touchdown passes while giving away 4 or 5 picks in yet another Colts loss.
The fan in me won't be able to help myself with the nausea that may come when Peyton's holding up the Lombardi trophy next February with that horse on his helmet instead of the horseshoe.
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